I loved this blog post, it is wonderful when a reader sees what you are getting at:
So how can Cowen’s approach be applied to questions of faith? ReligionWriter contends that for many people, religious observances present problems similar to those of Cowen’s art museum. We want to enjoy the experience, and it’s part our self-image to believe we find going to the church or synagogue or mosque meaningful and fulfilling. Yet who has not yawned their way through a sermon or prayer at one time or another? How do you keep your mind from wandering from the divine service to thoughts about grocery shopping later in the day or your next work assignment?
Applying Cowen’s logic, the first and probably most difficult step is admitting that we don’t always enjoy religious services and observances as much as we would like to think we do.
The conclusion?
Next time you look for a book on religious inspiration, don’t walk too quickly past the economics section.
I’ll write more soon about the implicit theology in Discover Your Inner Economist.
In analyzing the preferences and utilities of the worshiper, it may be dangerous to overlook the preference and utility of the Worshiped.
However, if you are not truly enjoying worship/church service or your relationship with God, then you’ll be doing it for the sake of it (maybe cos you think u want to end up in heaven) and that totally defeats the purpose of religion. Although I am from the Far East and do not adhere to any form of western religion, I will not worship a certain God for the sake of salvation but I will for the simple fact that I am enjoying a relationship with Him. Thus if you are worshiping for the sake of it even if you don’t enjoy, you might as well give up because you will end up in hell anyway. We are all humans and we are all subjected to our whims and mood swings, some days are just worse than others, you can’t perform at your peak forever(regression to mean?) and I think that’s the point Cowen is trying to make here. Btw, without taking “fun” too literally, i think people enjoy donating and helping others because it is fun to them, they find pleasure from doing those activities. i think that’s what fun is..
“it may be dangerous to overlook the preference and utility of the Worshiped.”
except it’s not.
This talk of fun reminds me of John Piper’s “Meditations of a Christian Hedonist”. His premise was that his purpose was to glorify his God BY ENJOYING Him forever, a little twist on the Westminster Catechism.
Be thankful for the great variety of religions and methods of observances that exist in America.
…In analyzing the preferences and utilities of the worshiper, it may be
dangerous to overlook the preference and utility of the Worshiped…
Perhaps but I think the Creator is interested in our engagement. I thought
Relgion Writer gave some good, simple tips. In the Catholic thinking,
worship and sacrifice does not do anything for God’s utility. It adds
nothing to God. Rather it helps us. Worship helps us become more like
the worshiped.
hey reason: Amen!
Another way of looking at it: religious observance offers the opportunity to bond with fellow-sufferers. Fasting on Yom Kippur is not enjoyable in itself, but one can complain about the rabbi’s sermon; giving up bread for matzah is not enjoyable in itself, but one can spend Pesach complaining about it (the more strictly controlled and more cardboard-like the matzah is, the better for bonding).
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